Author: Christina Gioia
This semester I had the opportunity to work at the Heinz History Center with Melissa Marinaro, Director of the Italian American Program. The History Center hosts an extensive archival collection of items from Western Pennsylvania’s Italian American community. These items, ranging from newspapers, photographs, and oral histories, enable us to better understand and interpret the history of this community. I spent most of my time in the museum’s Detre Library and Archives where I was able to get a feel for what goes into the archival process.
During my time as an intern, I created an inventory of the L’Unione newsletter of which the museum has a nearly full collection. The History Center received these newspapers as a part of their newly acquired Frediani Printing Company Papers and Photographs collection. The newspaper was printed in both Italian and English from 1957-2003, requiring me to do a bit of light translation when necessary. The newspaper covered the prominent events and issues that were relevant to the Italian American community in Pittsburgh at the time and highlights their involvement in activities such as local politics.
I also had the opportunity to assist with the Italian American Studies Association’s (IASA) Conference that was held in Pittsburgh in late October. The conference took place at both the History Center and on Pitt’s campus. I was responsible for running the registration table and got the chance to meet many IASA members and leaders. The conference, which consisted of various workshops, was a tangible way in which I was able to see exactly how important this research and archival collection is. Many of the conference attendees spoke to me about where in Italy their families were from and asked me the same, showing just how important this subject matter is to the identity of the local community.
Many of the items, including the newspapers I worked with, are donated by members of Pittsburgh’s Italian community who want their story included in the larger history of Italian Americans in Pittsburgh. This was something I kept in mind as I read through the editions of the L’Unione and transferred information into the document. I was responsible for interpreting what was most important to include from the newspapers in the inventory. As I went through editions of the paper ranging from the 1960s through the 1980s, I was able to track the progression of Italian American assimilation into mainstream culture. The paper would often highlight Italian Americans in both state and national government as well as coverage of Italian festivals throughout the city. Through this experience, I gained insight into how stories are told through an archival collection and the important work that goes into sharing them.
Christina Gioia, Museum Studies Intern at the Heinz History Center, Fall 2022